Lakers Notebook: Both Steves (Nash and Blake) are still hurting

But 15 games into the season, half of them aren't playing. Steve Nash hasn't played in nearly a month since suffering a small non-displaced fracture in his left leg.

Steve Blake has been sidelined for just more than two weeks.

Nash will miss at least two more games, including when the Lakers (7-8) host the Denver Nuggets tonight at Staples Center. He's participated in agility and jumping drills without additional pain the past four days, but the Lakers haven't scheduled another MRI for him.

Blake had one on Wednesday, prompting the Lakers to pencil him out at least seven more games in a two-week span because of a lower abdominal strain. According to a person familiar with the MRI results, Blake's tissues are torn from the bone.

The Lakers have various areas to sharpen so they can absorb such absences.

"We're trying to get better, especially on the defensive end," Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni said. "That's where we need to hang our hat until we get the offensive habits down and the Steves back."

Offense the real problem

Contrary to popular belief, the Lakers defense hasn't plummeted during the brief D'Antoni era. Although they are 2-3, the Lakers have ranked eighth out of 30 NBA teams in points allowed (95.4). They're also 12th in opponent field-goal percentage (43.8) and 10th in rebounding (44.2). Such figures reflect the Lakers' season averages.

The offense remains a different story.

Kobe Bryant practiced on Thursday despite battling the flu the past three days, and has shown no drop off in his league-leading 27.7 points per game scoring average.

The Lakers have struggled elsewhere. Under D'Antoni, the Lakers have ranked 15th overall in points per game (96.4), 20th in shooting percentage (43.5) and first in turnovers (17.2)

With increased ball-handling duties, Bryant has averaged 4.1 turnovers per contest. Meanwhile, point guard production between Darius Morris and Chris Duhon ranks last in the league (10.6 points per game).

One area could involve the Lakers' league-worst 63.3 percentage from the free-throw line.

"Why are we talking about free throws?," asked Dwight Howard, who has shot 59.5 percent this season. "All that stuff will come. I'll practice on a daily basis. I just have to have confidence to step up and make them."

Meanwhile, the Lakers are adjusting their offense.

"We're putting stuff in where we can get action closer to the basket," said Pau Gasol, who's averaged a career-low 13.1 points on 42.3 percent shooting. "That's something we should try to apply consistently so we can attack from those positions."

Fisher signs with Dallas

Derek Fisher, who won five NBA championships with the Lakers, joined the Dallas Mavericks after former UCLA product Darren Collison struggled manning the point guard spot.

"I want him to play as long as he wants and I know he kept himself in shape," Gasol said of the 38-year-old guard. "I'm happy for him."